title: Microbial formation and degradation of oxygen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) in soil during short-term incubation.
abstract: We tested whether OPAHs were formed during 19-wk incubation of a fertile soil at optimum moisture in the dark. The soil had initial mean (±s.e., n = 3) concentrations of 22 ± 1.7 (Σ28PAHs) and 4.2 ± 0.34 μg g(-1) (Σ14OPAHs). After 19 wk, individual PAH and OPAH concentrations had decreased by up to 14 and 37%, respectively. Decreases in % of initial concentrations were positively correlated with their KOW values for PAHs (r = 0.48, p = 0.022) and 9 OPAHs (r = 0.78, p = 0.013) but negatively, albeit not significantly, for 5 OPAHs (r = -0.75, p = 0.145) suggesting net formation of some OPAHs. The latter was supported by significantly increasing 1-indanone/fluorene ratios while the other OPAH to parent-PAH ratios remained constant or tended to increase. We conclude that OPAHs are formed in soils during microbial turnover of PAHs in a short time.
authors.affiliation: Geographic Institute, University of Berne, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Berne, Switzerland. Electronic address: wolfgang.wilcke@giub.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wilcke
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiesewetter
authors.forename: Benjamin A Musa
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bandowe
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Incubation; Microbial degradation; OPAHs; PAHs; Urban soil